Stephen Huber Position: Gauthier, Houghtaling & Williams associate Age: 38 Family: wife, Shannon; children, Harris, 5, Russell, 2. Education: bachelor's degree in history, Southern Methodist University; juris doctor, Loyola University College of Law

By that time, the victim's parents had made 14 trips to Louisiana, but every time the trial was delayed or a new lawyer was assigned to the case.

"I was determined to be the last prosecutor they ever talked to," Huber said.

The killer, faced with newly uncovered DNA evidence, pled guilty just before the trial was to start. "He's at Angola and should be for the rest of his life," Huber said. "He was a predator."

But what if the courtroom opponent is someone more sympathetic, such as a dying philanthropist? After working with the Orleans Parish District Attorney and the U.S. Attorney for Louisiana's Eastern District, Huber moved into private practice and took on the case of a business deal gone bad.

The philanthropist sued his business partner, who was Huber's client, for back payments. Huber defended that case, then countersued for damages on behalf of his client's lost business.

The trial took place in Florida, where the plaintiff was known for his community service.

"It was hard to pick a jury," Huber said. "But this was post-Enron, and people understood that businesses could be made up of nice people but do ruthless things."

After sorting through 100,000 documents, Huber found that the dying philanthropist had gone into the original business deal with every intention of driving out his partner.

E-mail evidence showed the plaintiff's growing interest in taking over the partner's share of the business, Huber said. A former employee came forward and corroborated the story, which sealed the case.

"The jury was rooted in common sense," Huber said.

Outside the courtroom, Huber devotes time to raising money for Teach for America, a program that places highachieving college graduates as teachers in inner-city schools.

After putting away hundreds of violent offenders during his decade as an assistant district attorney, Huber said those young people would have chosen a different path if they had stayed in school or even seen school as a viable option. He realizes that although he got to prosecute people who commit crimes, he wasn't going to cure the crime problem.

"Dedicating my resources to Teach for America fits with my life experience," he said.

Huber and his wife, Shannon, have sponsored a Teach for America teacher and hold annual fundraisers to sponsor other teachers.